Saturday, March 17, 2007

7 DAYS......

Bythis time next week, I will know more about what my summer will be like. I will know whether or not my summer will be spent going to concerts in Seattle or studying with Amy Hempel in New York.
I really wish I knew now.
Until then, I shall immerse myself in...well...horror business. I have some Poe plans for my book.
Cheers.

Oh yeah, go see "300" or, if it is playing somewhere near you, "Pan's Labyrinth."

Sunday, March 04, 2007

The Past catching up to me

Usually when some one says that thier past is catchingup with them, it is a bad thing. Not so much for me.
First, a bit of backstory for those who may not know.
I used to act. A lot. High school plays and a summer of "film acting" once held a major place in my life and my heart. I haven't been in a play since 2001.
Over the weekend, I was working on an articel for the paper about a group of students working on their film project for the semester. Just for fun, they talked me into auditioning.
Just for fun, they chose me for a role in the picture.
Here's the problem: If I had known I was getting a part, or if I had gone to meet them with the intention of auditioning, I couldn't write the article. Total conflict of interest. I won't be able to write about this project from an unbiased, reporter-like point of view anymore. the straight reporting thing is out the window.
I can still write about it, though. Columnist style.

In other news....
Found out today that outside readers like to link to other people's work. Specifically, an opinion blogger from Spokane. He likes a couple of our other columnists more than me, but he linked to my bit about getting out of jury duty.
Kick ass, right?
So I snooped around (actually, I Googled myself) and found that another group linked to my article about the Burns Night Supper I went to. You know, the night I ate haggis. They liked the article, even though they don't know who I am.
I think I'm going to e-mail them and ask if I can get a free ticket next year.

Check it out:
http://mysite.verizon.net/borderhighlanders/BurnsNight2007/ui-arg-burns-2007.htm
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/nhb/archive.asp?postID=13291
(you have to scroll down a ways to see that I'm on that page, but I'm there, dammit.)

Bonus points: super combo

I love Invader Zim. I also love Rob Zombie. Wanna see something supercrzycool?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqH2IPiyv-g

Man, I love YouTube.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Please submit 15-25 pages of your best work...

So, My writing professor in Las Vegas nominated me for this super kick-ass summer writing program scholarshipin New York State. he warned me ahead of time to watch for an e-mail from Skidmore College. (I really want this scholarship so I won't make any jokes about their name.)
I recieved that e-mail today.
Everythingis cool. I just have to fill out this application, write a letter about what I have done and what I want to do, send them $40 for the appliaction fee, (which sucks, 'cause i don't exactly have an extra forty bucks just lying around), and 15-25 pages of my best work.
WHAT????????????

Yes, I have more than 25 pages of writing that I think is good. That isn't the problem. Do I send them a couple short stories (I can hear Leslie Shipp in my ear saying, "Send them 'Seeds and All.") Or do I send off 25 pages of the novel in progress which many of you currently have available?
I have to have this sent out by March 9, by the way.
I should have been thinking of what to send before now.
No matter. I will send my best work (suggestions welcome...fiction only) and I will get this scholarship.
Yes, I rule that much.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Mid Term So Soon?

Somehow, midterms have snuck up on me without my knowing it. And I'm think, What the hell? It is barely March and I'm halfway through this semester? The calendar doesn't lie.
Here is how this breaks down:
I have one test next week, on Thursday. It is in my FIlm Theory and Criticism class. Today, I got back the results of the first test in the class. I thought I had bommbed it. I was sick and missed the review day, which was also the day everyone else was handed a copy of the questions and told we could use a one-page "cheat sheet." I scored an 83 out of 100. Not too shabby for not knowing the questions. The funny part is how I earned those points. The test was short essay-style. We had to answer 4 out of 6 questions with each essay being worth 25 points. My break-down went like this: 24, 10, 24, 25. So I must not have paid attention to the day we talked about that second question.
Moving on. I have a 9-page paper due for my 16th century poetry and prose class next Thursday, also. NOt as bad as it sounds. It is writing about 3 of 6 questions, 3 pages each and at least one secondary source for each question. I can handle that.
For my fiction writing class, I turned in a short story last week and the rest of the class will be spent workshopping. Cake.
For my News Editing and Production class, we'll have a much larger midterm project that will be assigned on Tuesday. i sort of know what to expect but not entirely.
Naturally, I will be spending the weekend workingon the paper and studying for the film test. Then I can give the rest of the week over to the News project.
Sure does sound like I have things planned out, doesn't it?
Good thing there isn't a NASCAR race this Sunday or I'd be screwed.
And after this "midterm" week is over, it is Spring Break.
Already? Geez.